Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights ’And the mistress?’ I ventured to inquire; ‘the doctorsays she’s - ‘ ’Damn the doctor!’ he interrupted, reddening. ‘Francesis quite right: she’ll be perfectly well by this time nextweek. Are you going up-stairs? will you tell her that I’llcome, if she’ll promise not to talk. I left her because shewould not hold her tongue; and she must - tell her Mr.Kenneth says she must be quiet.’ I delivered this message to Mrs. Earnshaw; she seemedin flighty spirits, and replied merrily, ‘I hardly spoke aword, Ellen, and there he has gone out twice, crying.Well, say I promise I won’t speak: but that does not bindme not to laugh at him!’ Poor soul! Till within a week of her death that gayheart never failed her; and her husband persisted doggedly,nay, furiously, in affirming her health improved every day.When Kenneth warned him that his medicines wereuseless at that stage of the malady, and he needn’t put himto further expense by attending her, he retorted, ‘I knowyou need not - she’s well - she does not want any moreattendance from you! She never was in a consumption. Itwas a fever; and it is gone: her pulse is as slow as minenow, and her cheek as cool.’ 101 of 540

Wuthering Heights He told his wife the same story, and she seemed tobelieve him; but one night, while leaning on his shoulder,in the act of saying she thought she should be able to getup to-morrow, a fit of coughing took her - a very slightone - he raised her in his arms; she put her two handsabout his neck, her face changed, and she was dead. As the girl had anticipated, the child Hareton fellwholly into my hands. Mr. Earnshaw, provided he sawhim healthy and never heard him cry, was contented, asfar as regarded him. For himself, he grew desperate: hissorrow was of that kind that will not lament. He neitherwept nor prayed; he cursed and defied: execrated God andman, and gave himself up to reckless dissipation. Theservants could not bear his tyrannical and evil conductlong: Joseph and I were the only two that would stay. Ihad not the heart to leave my charge; and besides, youknow, I had been his foster-sister, and excused hisbehaviour more readily than a stranger would. Josephremained to hector over tenants and labourers; andbecause it was his vocation to be where he had plenty ofwickedness to reprove. The master’s bad ways and bad companions formed apretty example for Catherine and Heathcliff. His treatmentof the latter was enough to make a fiend of a saint. And, 102 of 540

Wuthering Heightstruly, it appeared as if the lad WERE possessed ofsomething diabolical at that period. He delighted towitness Hindley degrading himself past redemption; andbecame daily more notable for savage sullenness andferocity. I could not half tell what an infernal house wehad. The curate dropped calling, and nobody decent camenear us, at last; unless Edgar Linton’s visits to Miss Cathymight be an exception. At fifteen she was the queen of thecountry-side; she had no peer; and she did turn out ahaughty, headstrong creature! I own I did not like her,after infancy was past; and I vexed her frequently by tryingto bring down her arrogance: she never took an aversionto me, though. She had a wondrous constancy to oldattachments: even Heathcliff kept his hold on heraffections unalterably; and young Linton, with all hissuperiority, found it difficult to make an equally deepimpression. He was my late master: that is his portrait overthe fireplace. It used to hang on one side, and his wife’s onthe other; but hers has been removed, or else you mightsee something of what she was. Can you make that out? Mrs. Dean raised the candle, and I discerned a soft-featured face, exceedingly resembling the young lady atthe Heights, but more pensive and amiable in expression.It formed a sweet picture. The long light hair curled 103 of 540

Wuthering Heightsslightly on the temples; the eyes were large and serious;the figure almost too graceful. I did not marvel howCatherine Earnshaw could forget her first friend for suchan individual. I marvelled much how he, with a mind tocorrespond with his person, could fancy my idea ofCatherine Earnshaw. ’A very agreeable portrait,’ I observed to the house-keeper. ‘Is it like?’ ’Yes,’ she answered; ‘but he looked better when he wasanimated; that is his everyday countenance: he wantedspirit in general.’ Catherine had kept up her acquaintance with theLintons since her five-weeks’ residence among them; andas she had no temptation to show her rough side in theircompany, and had the sense to be ashamed of being rudewhere she experienced such invariable courtesy, sheimposed unwittingly on the old lady and gentleman by heringenious cordiality; gained the admiration of Isabella, andthe heart and soul of her brother: acquisitions that flatteredher from the first - for she was full of ambition - and ledher to adopt a double character without exactly intendingto deceive any one. In the place where she heardHeathcliff termed a ‘vulgar young ruffian,’ and ‘worse thana brute,’ she took care not to act like him; but at home she 104 of 540

Wuthering Heightshad small inclination to practise politeness that would onlybe laughed at, and restrain an unruly nature when it wouldbring her neither credit nor praise. Mr. Edgar seldom mustered courage to visit WutheringHeights openly. He had a terror of Earnshaw’s reputation,and shrunk from encountering him; and yet he was alwaysreceived with our best attempts at civility: the masterhimself avoided offending him, knowing why he came;and if he could not be gracious, kept out of the way. Irather think his appearance there was distasteful toCatherine; she was not artful, never played the coquette,and had evidently an objection to her two friends meetingat all; for when Heathcliff expressed contempt of Linton inhis presence, she could not half coincide, as she did in hisabsence; and when Linton evinced disgust and antipathy toHeathcliff, she dared not treat his sentiments withindifference, as if depreciation of her playmate were ofscarcely any consequence to her. I’ve had many a laugh ather perplexities and untold troubles, which she vainlystrove to hide from my mockery. That sounds ill-natured:but she was so proud it became really impossible to pityher distresses, till she should be chastened into morehumility. She did bring herself, finally, to confess, and to 105 of 540

Wuthering Heightsconfide in me: there was not a soul else that she mightfashion into an adviser. Mr. Hindley had gone from home one afternoon, andHeathcliff presumed to give himself a holiday on thestrength of it. He had reached the age of sixteen then, Ithink, and without having bad features, or being deficientin intellect, he contrived to convey an impression ofinward and outward repulsiveness that his present aspectretains no traces of. In the first place, he had by that timelost the benefit of his early education: continual hardwork, begun soon and concluded late, had extinguishedany curiosity he once possessed in pursuit of knowledge,and any love for books or learning. His childhood’s senseof superiority, instilled into him by the favours of old Mr.Earnshaw, was faded away. He struggled long to keep upan equality with Catherine in her studies, and yielded withpoignant though silent regret: but he yielded completely;and there was no prevailing on him to take a step in theway of moving upward, when he found he must,necessarily, sink beneath his former level. Then personalappearance sympathised with mental deterioration: heacquired a slouching gait and ignoble look; his naturallyreserved disposition was exaggerated into an almost idioticexcess of unsociable moroseness; and he took a grim 106 of 540

Wuthering Heightspleasure, apparently, in exciting the aversion rather thanthe esteem of his few acquaintance. Catherine and he were constant companions still at hisseasons of respite from labour; but he had ceased toexpress his fondness for her in words, and recoiled withangry suspicion from her girlish caresses, as if consciousthere could be no gratification in lavishing such marks ofaffection on him. On the before-named occasion he cameinto the house to announce his intention of doingnothing, while I was assisting Miss Cathy to arrange herdress: she had not reckoned on his taking it into his headto be idle; and imagining she would have the whole placeto herself, she managed, by some means, to inform Mr.Edgar of her brother’s absence, and was then preparing toreceive him. ’Cathy, are you busy this afternoon?’ asked Heathcliff.‘Are you going anywhere?’ ’No, it is raining,’ she answered. ’Why have you that silk frock on, then?’ he said.‘Nobody coming here, I hope?’ ’Not that I know of,’ stammered Miss: ‘but you shouldbe in the field now, Heathcliff. It is an hour pastdinnertime: I thought you were gone.’ 107 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Hindley does not often free us from his accursedpresence,’ observed the boy. ‘I’ll not work any more to-day: I’ll stay with you.’ ’Oh, but Joseph will tell,’ she suggested; ‘you’d bettergo!’ ’Joseph is loading lime on the further side of PenistoneCrags; it will take him till dark, and he’ll never know.’ So, saying, he lounged to the fire, and sat down.Catherine reflected an instant, with knitted brows - shefound it needful to smooth the way for an intrusion.‘Isabella and Edgar Linton talked of calling this afternoon,’she said, at the conclusion of a minute’s silence. ‘As itrains, I hardly expect them; but they may come, and ifthey do, you run the risk of being scolded for no good.’ ’Order Ellen to say you are engaged, Cathy,’ hepersisted; ‘don’t turn me out for those pitiful, silly friendsof yours! I’m on the point, sometimes, of complaining thatthey - but I’ll not - ‘ ’That they what?’ cried Catherine, gazing at him with atroubled countenance. ‘Oh, Nelly!’ she added petulantly,jerking her head away from my hands, ‘you’ve combedmy hair quite out of curl! That’s enough; let me alone.What are you on the point of complaining about,Heathcliff?’ 108 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Nothing - only look at the almanack on that wall;’ hepointed to a framed sheet hanging near the window, andcontinued, ‘The crosses are for the evenings you havespent with the Lintons, the dots for those spent with me.Do you see? I’ve marked every day.’ ’Yes - very foolish: as if I took notice!’ repliedCatherine, in a peevish tone. ‘And where is the sense ofthat?’ ’To show that I DO take notice,’ said Heathcliff. ’And should I always be sitting with you?’ shedemanded, growing more irritated. ‘What good do I get?What do you talk about? You might be dumb, or a baby,for anything you say to amuse me, or for anything you do,either!’ ’You never told me before that I talked too little, orthat you disliked my company, Cathy!’ exclaimedHeathcliff, in much agitation. ’It’s no company at all, when people know nothing andsay nothing,’ she muttered. Her companion rose up, but he hadn’t time to expresshis feelings further, for a horse’s feet were heard on theflags, and having knocked gently, young Linton entered,his face brilliant with delight at the unexpected summonshe had received. Doubtless Catherine marked the 109 of 540

Wuthering Heightsdifference between her friends, as one came in and theother went out. The contrast resembled what you see inexchanging a bleak, hilly, coal country for a beautifulfertile valley; and his voice and greeting were as oppositeas his aspect. He had a sweet, low manner of speaking, andpronounced his words as you do: that’s less gruff than wetalk here, and softer. ’I’m not come too soon, am I?’ he said, casting a lookat me: I had begun to wipe the plate, and tidy somedrawers at the far end in the dresser. ’No,’ answered Catherine. ‘What are you doing there,Nelly?’ ’My work, Miss,’ I replied. (Mr. Hindley had given medirections to make a third party in any private visits Lintonchose to pay.) She stepped behind me and whispered crossly, ‘Takeyourself and your dusters off; when company are in thehouse, servants don’t commence scouring and cleaning inthe room where they are!’ ’It’s a good opportunity, now that master is away,’ Ianswered aloud: ‘he hates me to be fidgeting over thesethings in his presence. I’m sure Mr. Edgar will excuse me.’ ’I hate you to be fidgeting in MY presence,’ exclaimedthe young lady imperiously, not allowing her guest time to 110 of 540

Wuthering Heightsspeak: she had failed to recover her equanimity since thelittle dispute with Heathcliff. ’I’m sorry for it, Miss Catherine,’ was my response; andI proceeded assiduously with my occupation. She, supposing Edgar could not see her, snatched thecloth from my hand, and pinched me, with a prolongedwrench, very spitefully on the arm. I’ve said I did not loveher, and rather relished mortifying her vanity now andthen: besides, she hurt me extremely; so I started up frommy knees, and screamed out, ‘Oh, Miss, that’s a nastytrick! You have no right to nip me, and I’m not going tobear it.’ ’I didn’t touch you, you lying creature!’ cried she, herfingers tingling to repeat the act, and her ears red withrage. She never had power to conceal her passion, italways set her whole complexion in a blaze. ’What’s that, then?’ I retorted, showing a decidedpurple witness to refute her. She stamped her foot, wavered a moment, and then,irresistibly impelled by the naughty spirit within her,slapped me on the cheek: a stinging blow that filled botheyes with water. 111 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Catherine, love! Catherine!’ interposed Linton, greatlyshocked at the double fault of falsehood and violencewhich his idol had committed. ’Leave the room, Ellen!’ she repeated, trembling allover. Little Hareton, who followed me everywhere, and wassitting near me on the floor, at seeing my tearscommenced crying himself, and sobbed out complaintsagainst ‘wicked aunt Cathy,’ which drew her fury on tohis unlucky head: she seized his shoulders, and shook himtill the poor child waxed livid, and Edgar thoughtlesslylaid hold of her hands to deliver him. In an instant onewas wrung free, and the astonished young man felt itapplied over his own ear in a way that could not bemistaken for jest. He drew back in consternation. I liftedHareton in my arms, and walked off to the kitchen withhim, leaving the door of communication open, for I wascurious to watch how they would settle theirdisagreement. The insulted visitor moved to the spotwhere he had laid his hat, pale and with a quivering lip. ’That’s right!’ I said to myself. ‘Take warning andbegone! It’s a kindness to let you have a glimpse of hergenuine disposition.’ 112 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Where are you going?’ demanded Catherine,advancing to the door. He swerved aside, and attempted to pass. ’You must not go!’ she exclaimed, energetically. ’I must and shall!’ he replied in a subdued voice. ’No,’ she persisted, grasping the handle; ‘not yet, EdgarLinton: sit down; you shall not leave me in that temper. Ishould be miserable all night, and I won’t be miserable foryou!’ ’Can I stay after you have struck me?’ asked Linton. Catherine was mute. ’You’ve made me afraid and ashamed of you,’ hecontinued; ‘I’ll not come here again!’ Her eyes began to glisten and her lids to twinkle. ’And you told a deliberate untruth!’ he said. ’I didn’t!’ she cried, recovering her speech; ‘I didnothing deliberately. Well, go, if you please - get away!And now I’ll cry - I’ll cry myself sick!’ She dropped down on her knees by a chair, and set toweeping in serious earnest. Edgar persevered in hisresolution as far as the court; there he lingered. I resolvedto encourage him. 113 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Miss is dreadfully wayward, sir,’ I called out. ‘As bad asany marred child: you’d better be riding home, or else shewill be sick, only to grieve us.’ The soft thing looked askance through the window: hepossessed the power to depart as much as a cat possessesthe power to leave a mouse half killed, or a bird half eaten.Ah, I thought, there will be no saving him: he’s doomed,and flies to his fate! And so it was: he turned abruptly,hastened into the house again, shut the door behind him;and when I went in a while after to inform them thatEarnshaw had come home rabid drunk, ready to pull thewhole place about our ears (his ordinary frame of mind inthat condition), I saw the quarrel had merely effected acloser intimacy - had broken the outworks of youthfultimidity, and enabled them to forsake the disguise offriendship, and confess themselves lovers. Intelligence of Mr. Hindley’s arrival drove Lintonspeedily to his horse, and Catherine to her chamber. Iwent to hide little Hareton, and to take the shot out of themaster’s fowling-piece, which he was fond of playing within his insane excitement, to the hazard of the lives of anywho provoked, or even attracted his notice too much; andI had hit upon the plan of removing it, that he might doless mischief if he did go the length of firing the gun. 114 of 540

Wuthering Heights Chapter IX HE entered, vociferating oaths dreadful to hear; andcaught me in the act of stowing his son sway in thekitchen cupboard. Hareton was impressed with awholesome terror of encountering either his wild beast’sfondness or his madman’s rage; for in one he ran a chanceof being squeezed and kissed to death, and in the other ofbeing flung into the fire, or dashed against the wall; andthe poor thing remained perfectly quiet wherever I choseto put him. ’There, I’ve found it out at last!’ cried Hindley, pullingme back by the skin of my neck, like a dog. ‘By heavenand hell, you’ve sworn between you to murder that child!I know how it is, now, that he is always out of my way.But, with the help of Satan, I shall make you swallow thecarving-knife, Nelly! You needn’t laugh; for I’ve justcrammed Kenneth, head-downmost, in the Black- horsemarsh; and two is the same as one - and I want to killsome of you: I shall have no rest till I do!’ ’But I don’t like the carving-knife, Mr. Hindley,’ Ianswered; ‘it has been cutting red herrings. I’d rather beshot, if you please.’ 115 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’You’d rather be damned!’ he said; ‘and so you shall.No law in England can hinder a man from keeping hishouse decent, and mine’s abominable! Open your mouth.’He held the knife in his hand, and pushed its pointbetween my teeth: but, for my part, I was never muchafraid of his vagaries. I spat out, and affirmed it tasteddetestably - I would not take it on any account. ’Oh!’ said he, releasing me, ‘I see that hideous littlevillain is not Hareton: I beg your pardon, Nell. If it be, hedeserves flaying alive for not running to welcome me, andfor screaming as if I were a goblin. Unnatural cub, comehither! I’ll teach thee to impose on a good-hearted,deluded father. Now, don’t you think the lad would behandsomer cropped? It makes a dog fiercer, and I lovesomething fierce - get me a scissors - something fierce andtrim! Besides, it’s infernal affectation - devilish conceit itis, to cherish our ears - we’re asses enough without them.Hush, child, hush! Well then, it is my darling! wisht, drythy eyes - there’s a joy; kiss me. What! it won’t? Kiss me,Hareton! Damn thee, kiss me! By God, as if I would rearsuch a monster! As sure as I’m living, I’ll break the brat’sneck.’ Poor Hareton was squalling and kicking in his father’sarms with all his might, and redoubled his yells when he 116 of 540

Wuthering Heightscarried him up- stairs and lifted him over the banister. Icried out that he would frighten the child into fits, and ranto rescue him. As I reached them, Hindley leant forwardon the rails to listen to a noise below; almost forgettingwhat he had in his hands. ‘Who is that?’ he asked, hearingsome one approaching the stairs’-foot. I leant forward also,for the purpose of signing to Heathcliff, whose step Irecognised, not to come further; and, at the instant whenmy eye quitted Hareton, he gave a sudden spring,delivered himself from the careless grasp that held him,and fell. There was scarcely time to experience a thrill of horrorbefore we saw that the little wretch was safe. Heathcliffarrived underneath just at the critical moment; by a naturalimpulse he arrested his descent, and setting him on hisfeet, looked up to discover the author of the accident. Amiser who has parted with a lucky lottery ticket for fiveshillings, and finds next day he has lost in the bargain fivethousand pounds, could not show a blanker countenancethan he did on beholding the figure of Mr. Earnshawabove. It expressed, plainer than words could do, theintensest anguish at having made himself the instrument ofthwarting his own revenge. Had it been dark, I daresay hewould have tried to remedy the mistake by smashing 117 of 540

Wuthering HeightsHareton’s skull on the steps; but, we witnessed hissalvation; and I was presently below with my preciouscharge pressed to my heart. Hindley descended moreleisurely, sobered and abashed. ’It is your fault, Ellen,’ he said; ‘you should have kepthim out of sight: you should have taken him from me! Ishe injured anywhere?’ ’Injured!’ I cried angrily; ‘if he is not killed, he’ll be anidiot! Oh! I wonder his mother does not rise from hergrave to see how you use him. You’re worse than aheathen - treating your own flesh and blood in thatmanner!’ He attempted to touch the child, who, onfinding himself with me, sobbed off his terror directly. Atthe first finger his father laid on him, however, he shriekedagain louder than before, and struggled as if he would gointo convulsions. ’You shall not meddle with him!’ I continued. ‘Hehates you - they all hate you - that’s the truth! A happyfamily you have; and a pretty state you’re come to!’ ’I shall come to a prettier, yet, Nelly,’ laughed themisguided man, recovering his hardness. ‘At present,convey yourself and him away. And hark you, Heathcliff!clear you too quite from my reach and hearing. I wouldn’t 118 of 540

Wuthering Heightsmurder you to-night; unless, perhaps, I set the house onfire: but that’s as my fancy goes.’ While saying this he took a pint bottle of brandy fromthe dresser, and poured some into a tumbler. ’Nay, don’t!’ I entreated. ‘Mr. Hindley, do takewarning. Have mercy on this unfortunate boy, if you carenothing for yourself!’ ’Any one will do better for him than I shall,’ heanswered. ’Have mercy on your own soul!’ I said, endeavouringto snatch the glass from his hand. ’Not I! On the contrary, I shall have great pleasure insending it to perdition to punish its Maker,’ exclaimed theblasphemer. ‘Here’s to its hearty damnation!’ He drank the spirits and impatiently bade us go;terminating his command with a sequel of horridimprecations too bad to repeat or remember. ’It’s a pity he cannot kill himself with drink,’ observedHeathcliff, muttering an echo of curses back when thedoor was shut. ‘He’s doing his very utmost; but hisconstitution defies him. Mr. Kenneth says he would wagerhis mare that he’ll outlive any man on this sideGimmerton, and go to the grave a hoary sinner; unlesssome happy chance out of the common course befall him.’ 119 of 540

Wuthering Heights I went into the kitchen, and sat down to lull my littlelamb to sleep. Heathcliff, as I thought, walked through tothe barn. It turned out afterwards that he only got as far asthe other side the settle, when he flung himself on a benchby the wall, removed from the fire and remained silent. I was rocking Hareton on my knee, and humming asong that began, - It was far in the night, and the bairnies grat, The mitherbeneath the mools heard that, when Miss Cathy, who had listened to the hubbubfrom her room, put her head in, and whispered, - ‘Areyou alone, Nelly?’ ’Yes, Miss,’ I replied. She entered and approached the hearth. I, supposingshe was going to say something, looked up. Theexpression of her face seemed disturbed and anxious. Herlips were half asunder, as if she meant to speak, and shedrew a breath; but it escaped in a sigh instead of asentence. I resumed my song; not having forgotten herrecent behaviour. ’Where’s Heathcliff?’ she said, interrupting me. ’About his work in the stable,’ was my answer. He did not contradict me; perhaps he had fallen into adoze. There followed another long pause, during which I 120 of 540

Wuthering Heightsperceived a drop or two trickle from Catherine’s cheek tothe flags. Is she sorry for her shameful conduct? - I askedmyself. That will be a novelty: but she may come to thepoint - as she will - I sha’n’t help her! No, she felt smalltrouble regarding any subject, save her own concerns. ’Oh, dear!’ she cried at last. ‘I’m very unhappy!’ ’A pity,’ observed I. ‘You’re hard to please; so manyfriends and so few cares, and can’t make yourself content!’ ’Nelly, will you keep a secret for me?’ she pursued,kneeling down by me, and lifting her winsome eyes to myface with that sort of look which turns off bad temper,even when one has all the right in the world to indulge it. ’Is it worth keeping?’ I inquired, less sulkily. ’Yes, and it worries me, and I must let it out! I want toknow what I should do. To-day, Edgar Linton has askedme to marry him, and I’ve given him an answer. Now,before I tell you whether it was a consent or denial, youtell me which it ought to have been.’ ’Really, Miss Catherine, how can I know?’ I replied.‘To be sure, considering the exhibition you performed inhis presence this afternoon, I might say it would be wise torefuse him: since he asked you after that, he must either behopelessly stupid or a venturesome fool.’ 121 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’If you talk so, I won’t tell you any more,’ shereturned, peevishly rising to her feet. ‘I accepted him,Nelly. Be quick, and say whether I was wrong!’ ’You accepted him! Then what good is it discussing thematter? You have pledged your word, and cannot retract.’ ’But say whether I should have done so - do!’ sheexclaimed in an irritated tone; chafing her hands together,and frowning. ’There are many things to be considered before thatquestion can be answered properly,’ I said, sententiously.‘First and foremost, do you love Mr. Edgar?’ ’Who can help it? Of course I do,’ she answered. Then I put her through the following catechism: for agirl of twenty-two it was not injudicious. ’Why do you love him, Miss Cathy?’ ’Nonsense, I do - that’s sufficient.’ ’By no means; you must say why?’ ’Well, because he is handsome, and pleasant to bewith.’ ’Bad!’ was my commentary. ’And because he is young and cheerful.’ ’Bad, still.’ ’And because he loves me.’ ’Indifferent, coming there.’ 122 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’And he will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatestwoman of the neighbourhood, and I shall be proud ofhaving such a husband.’ ’Worst of all. And now, say how you love him?’ ’As everybody loves - You’re silly, Nelly.’ ’Not at all - Answer.’ ’I love the ground under his feet, and the air over hishead, and everything he touches, and every word he says.I love all his looks, and all his actions, and him entirelyand altogether. There now!’ ’And why?’ ’Nay; you are making a jest of it: it is exceedingly ill-natured! It’s no jest to me!’ said the young lady, scowling,and turning her face to the fire. ’I’m very far from jesting, Miss Catherine,’ I replied.‘You love Mr. Edgar because he is handsome, and young,and cheerful, and rich, and loves you. The last, however,goes for nothing: you would love him without that,probably; and with it you wouldn’t, unless he possessedthe four former attractions.’ ’No, to be sure not: I should only pity him - hate him,perhaps, if he were ugly, and a clown.’ 123 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’But there are several other handsome, rich young menin the world: handsomer, possibly, and richer than he is.What should hinder you from loving them?’ ’If there be any, they are out of my way: I’ve seen nonelike Edgar.’ ’You may see some; and he won’t always be handsome,and young, and may not always be rich.’ ’He is now; and I have only to do with the present. Iwish you would speak rationally.’ ’Well, that settles it: if you have only to do with thepresent, marry Mr. Linton.’ ’I don’t want your permission for that - I SHALLmarry him: and yet you have not told me whether I’mright.’ ’Perfectly right; if people be right to marry only for thepresent. And now, let us hear what you are unhappyabout. Your brother will be pleased; the old lady andgentleman will not object, I think; you will escape from adisorderly, comfortless home into a wealthy, respectableone; and you love Edgar, and Edgar loves you. All seemssmooth and easy: where is the obstacle?’ ’HERE! and HERE!’ replied Catherine, striking onehand on her forehead, and the other on her breast: ‘in 124 of 540

Wuthering Heightswhichever place the soul lives. In my soul and in myheart, I’m convinced I’m wrong!’ ’That’s very strange! I cannot make it out.’ ’It’s my secret. But if you will not mock at me, I’llexplain it: I can’t do it distinctly; but I’ll give you a feelingof how I feel.’ She seated herself by me again: her countenance grewsadder and graver, and her clasped hands trembled. ’Nelly, do you never dream queer dreams?’ she said,suddenly, after some minutes’ reflection. ’Yes, now and then,’ I answered. ’And so do I. I’ve dreamt in my life dreams that havestayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas: they’vegone through and through me, like wine through water,and altered the colour of my mind. And this is one: I’mgoing to tell it - but take care not to smile at any part ofit.’ ’Oh! don’t, Miss Catherine!’ I cried. ‘We’re dismalenough without conjuring up ghosts and visions toperplex us. Come, come, be merry and like yourself! Lookat little Hareton! HE’S dreaming nothing dreary. Howsweetly he smiles in his sleep!’ ’Yes; and how sweetly his father curses in his solitude!You remember him, I daresay, when he was just such 125 of 540

Wuthering Heightsanother as that chubby thing: nearly as young andinnocent. However, Nelly, I shall oblige you to listen: it’snot long; and I’ve no power to be merry to-night.’ ’I won’t hear it, I won’t hear it!’ I repeated, hastily. I was superstitious about dreams then, and am still; andCatherine had an unusual gloom in her aspect, that mademe dread something from which I might shape aprophecy, and foresee a fearful catastrophe. She was vexed,but she did not proceed. Apparently taking up anothersubject, she recommenced in a short time. ’If I were in heaven, Nelly, I should be extremelymiserable.’ ’Because you are not fit to go there,’ I answered. ‘Allsinners would be miserable in heaven.’ ’But it is not for that. I dreamt once that I was there.’ ’I tell you I won’t hearken to your dreams, MissCatherine! I’ll go to bed,’ I interrupted again. She laughed, and held me down; for I made a motionto leave my chair. ’This is nothing,’ cried she: ‘I was only going to saythat heaven did not seem to be my home; and I broke myheart with weeping to come back to earth; and the angelswere so angry that they flung me out into the middle ofthe heath on the top of Wuthering Heights; where I woke 126 of 540

Wuthering Heightssobbing for joy. That will do to explain my secret, as wellas the other. I’ve no more business to marry Edgar Lintonthan I have to be in heaven; and if the wicked man inthere had not brought Heathcliff so low, I shouldn’t havethought of it. It would degrade me to marry Heathcliffnow; so he shall never know how I love him: and that,not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s moremyself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his andmine are the same; and Linton’s is as different as amoonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire.’ Ere this speech ended I became sensible of Heathcliff’spresence. Having noticed a slight movement, I turned myhead, and saw him rise from the bench, and steal outnoiselessly. He had listened till he heard Catherine say itwould degrade her to marry him, and then he stayed tohear no further. My companion, sitting on the ground,was prevented by the back of the settle from remarking hispresence or departure; but I started, and bade her hush! ’Why?’ she asked, gazing nervously round. ’Joseph is here,’ I answered, catching opportunely theroll of his cartwheels up the road; ‘and Heathcliff willcome in with him. I’m not sure whether he were not atthe door this moment.’ 127 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Oh, he couldn’t overhear me at the door!’ said she.‘Give me Hareton, while you get the supper, and when itis ready ask me to sup with you. I want to cheat myuncomfortable conscience, and be convinced thatHeathcliff has no notion of these things. He has not, hashe? He does not know what being in love is!’ ’I see no reason that he should not know, as well asyou,’ I returned; ‘and if you are his choice, he’ll be themost unfortunate creature that ever was born! As soon asyou become Mrs. Linton, he loses friend, and love, and all!Have you considered how you’ll bear the separation, andhow he’ll bear to be quite deserted in the world? Because,Miss Catherine - ‘ ’He quite deserted! we separated!’ she exclaimed, withan accent of indignation. ‘Who is to separate us, pray?They’ll meet the fate of Milo! Not as long as I live, Ellen:for no mortal creature. Every Linton on the face of theearth might melt into nothing before I could consent toforsake Heathcliff. Oh, that’s not what I intend - that’s notwhat I mean! I shouldn’t be Mrs. Linton were such a pricedemanded! He’ll be as much to me as he has been all hislifetime. Edgar must shake off his antipathy, and toleratehim, at least. He will, when he learns my true feelingstowards him. Nelly, I see now you think me a selfish 128 of 540

Wuthering Heightswretch; but did it never strike you that if Heathcliff and Imarried, we should be beggars? whereas, if I marry LintonI can aid Heathcliff to rise, and place him out of mybrother’s power.’ ’With your husband’s money, Miss Catherine?’ I asked.‘You’ll find him not so pliable as you calculate upon: and,though I’m hardly a judge, I think that’s the worst motiveyou’ve given yet for being the wife of young Linton.’ ’It is not,’ retorted she; ‘it is the best! The others werethe satisfaction of my whims: and for Edgar’s sake, too, tosatisfy him. This is for the sake of one who comprehendsin his person my feelings to Edgar and myself. I cannotexpress it; but surely you and everybody have a notionthat there is or should be an existence of yours beyondyou. What were the use of my creation, if I were entirelycontained here? My great miseries in this world have beenHeathcliff’s miseries, and I watched and felt each from thebeginning: my great thought in living is himself. If all elseperished, and HE remained, I should still continue to be;and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, theuniverse would turn to a mighty stranger: I should notseem a part of it. - My love for Linton is like the foliage inthe woods: time will change it, I’m well aware, as winterchanges the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the 129 of 540

Wuthering Heightseternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, butnecessary. Nelly, I AM Heathcliff! He’s always, always inmy mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always apleasure to myself, but as my own being. So don’t talk ofour separation again: it is impracticable; and - ‘ She paused, and hid her face in the folds of my gown;but I jerked it forcibly away. I was out of patience withher folly! ’If I can make any sense of your nonsense, Miss,’ I said,‘it only goes to convince me that you are ignorant of theduties you undertake in marrying; or else that you are awicked, unprincipled girl. But trouble me with no moresecrets: I’ll not promise to keep them.’ ’You’ll keep that?’ she asked, eagerly. ’No, I’ll not promise,’ I repeated. She was about to insist, when the entrance of Josephfinished our conversation; and Catherine removed her seatto a corner, and nursed Hareton, while I made the supper.After it was cooked, my fellow-servant and I began toquarrel who should carry some to Mr. Hindley; and wedidn’t settle it till all was nearly cold. Then we came to theagreement that we would let him ask, if he wanted any;for we feared particularly to go into his presence when hehad been some time alone. 130 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’And how isn’t that nowt comed in fro’ th’ field, bethis time? What is he about? girt idle seeght!’ demandedthe old man, looking round for Heathcliff. ’I’ll call him,’ I replied. ‘He’s in the barn, I’ve nodoubt.’ I went and called, but got no answer. On returning, Iwhispered to Catherine that he had heard a good part ofwhat she said, I was sure; and told how I saw him quit thekitchen just as she complained of her brother’s conductregarding him. She jumped up in a fine fright, flungHareton on to the settle, and ran to seek for her friendherself; not taking leisure to consider why she was soflurried, or how her talk would have affected him. Shewas absent such a while that Joseph proposed we shouldwait no longer. He cunningly conjectured they werestaying away in order to avoid hearing his protractedblessing. They were ‘ill eneugh for ony fahl manners,’ heaffirmed. And on their behalf he added that night a specialprayer to the usual quarter-of-an-hour’s supplicationbefore meat, and would have tacked another to the end ofthe grace, had not his young mistress broken in upon himwith a hurried command that he must run down the road,and, wherever Heathcliff had rambled, find and make himre-enter directly! 131 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’I want to speak to him, and I MUST, before I goupstairs,’ she said. ‘And the gate is open: he is somewhereout of hearing; for he would not reply, though I shoutedat the top of the fold as loud as I could.’ Joseph objected at first; she was too much in earnest,however, to suffer contradiction; and at last he placed hishat on his head, and walked grumbling forth. Meantime,Catherine paced up and down the floor, exclaiming - ‘Iwonder where he is - I wonder where he can be! Whatdid I say, Nelly? I’ve forgotten. Was he vexed at my badhumour this afternoon? Dear! tell me what I’ve said togrieve him? I do wish he’d come. I do wish he would!’ ’What a noise for nothing!’ I cried, though ratheruneasy myself. ‘What a trifle scares you! It’s surely no greatcause of alarm that Heathcliff should take a moonlightsaunter on the moors, or even lie too sulky to speak to usin the hay-loft. I’ll engage he’s lurking there. See if I don’tferret him out!’ I departed to renew my search; its result wasdisappointment, and Joseph’s quest ended in the same. ’Yon lad gets war und war!’ observed he on re-entering. ‘He’s left th’ gate at t’ full swing, and Miss’s ponyhas trodden dahn two rigs o’ corn, and plottered through,raight o’er into t’ meadow! Hahsomdiver, t’ maister ‘ull 132 of 540

Wuthering Heightsplay t’ devil to-morn, and he’ll do weel. He’s patienceitsseln wi’ sich careless, offald craters - patience itsseln heis! Bud he’ll not be soa allus - yah’s see, all on ye! Yahmun’n’t drive him out of his heead for nowt!’ ’Have you found Heathcliff, you ass?’ interruptedCatherine. ‘Have you been looking for him, as I ordered?’ ’I sud more likker look for th’ horse,’ he replied. ‘It ‘udbe to more sense. Bud I can look for norther horse nurman of a neeght loike this - as black as t’ chimbley! undHeathcliff’s noan t’ chap to coom at MY whistle - happenhe’ll be less hard o’ hearing wi’ YE!’ It WAS a very dark evening for summer: the cloudsappeared inclined to thunder, and I said we had better allsit down; the approaching rain would be certain to bringhim home without further trouble. However, Catherinewould hot be persuaded into tranquillity. She keptwandering to and fro, from the gate to the door, in a stateof agitation which permitted no repose; and at length tookup a permanent situation on one side of the wall, near theroad: where, heedless of my expostulations and thegrowling thunder, and the great drops that began to plasharound her, she remained, calling at intervals, and thenlistening, and then crying outright. She beat Hareton, orany child, at a good passionate fit of crying. 133 of 540

Wuthering Heights About midnight, while we still sat up, the storm camerattling over the Heights in full fury. There was a violentwind, as well as thunder, and either one or the other splita tree off at the corner of the building: a huge bough fellacross the roof, and knocked down a portion of the eastchimney-stack, sending a clatter of stones and soot into thekitchen-fire. We thought a bolt had fallen in the middle ofus; and Joseph swung on to his knees, beseeching the Lordto remember the patriarchs Noah and Lot, and, as informer times, spare the righteous, though he smote theungodly. I felt some sentiment that it must be a judgmenton us also. The Jonah, in my mind, was Mr. Earnshaw;and I shook the handle of his den that I might ascertain ifhe were yet living. He replied audibly enough, in afashion which made my companion vociferate, moreclamorously than before, that a wide distinction might bedrawn between saints like himself and sinners like hismaster. But the uproar passed away in twenty minutes,leaving us all unharmed; excepting Cathy, who gotthoroughly drenched for her obstinacy in refusing to takeshelter, and standing bonnetless and shawl-less to catch asmuch water as she could with her hair and clothes. Shecame in and lay down on the settle, all soaked as she was, 134 of 540

Wuthering Heightsturning her face to the back, and putting her hands beforeit. ’Well, Miss!’ I exclaimed, touching her shoulder; ‘youare not bent on getting your death, are you? Do youknow what o’clock it is? Half-past twelve. Come, come tobed! there’s no use waiting any longer on that foolish boy:he’ll be gone to Gimmerton, and he’ll stay there now. Heguesses we shouldn’t wait for him till this late hour: atleast, he guesses that only Mr. Hindley would be up; andhe’d rather avoid having the door opened by the master.’ ’Nay, nay, he’s noan at Gimmerton,’ said Joseph. ‘I’sniver wonder but he’s at t’ bothom of a bog-hoile. Thisvisitation worn’t for nowt, and I wod hev’ ye to look out,Miss - yah muh be t’ next. Thank Hivin for all! All warkstogither for gooid to them as is chozzen, and piked outfro’ th’ rubbidge! Yah knaw whet t’ Scripture ses.’ And hebegan quoting several texts, referring us to chapters andverses where we might find them. I, having vainly begged the wilful girl to rise andremove her wet things, left him preaching and hershivering, and betook myself to bed with little Hareton,who slept as fast as if everyone had been sleeping roundhim. I heard Joseph read on a while afterwards; then I 135 of 540

Wuthering Heightsdistinguished his slow step on the ladder, and then Idropped asleep. Coming down somewhat later than usual, I saw, by thesunbeams piercing the chinks of the shutters, MissCatherine still seated near the fireplace. The house-doorwas ajar, too; light entered from its unclosed windows;Hindley had come out, and stood on the kitchen hearth,haggard and drowsy. ’What ails you, Cathy?’ he was saying when I entered:‘you look as dismal as a drowned whelp. Why are you sodamp and pale, child?’ ’I’ve been wet,’ she answered reluctantly, ‘and I’mcold, that’s all.’ ’Oh, she is naughty!’ I cried, perceiving the master tobe tolerably sober. ‘She got steeped in the shower ofyesterday evening, and there she has sat the night through,and I couldn’t prevail on her to stir.’ Mr. Earnshaw stared at us in surprise. ‘The nightthrough,’ he repeated. ‘What kept her up? not fear of thethunder, surely? That was over hours since.’ Neither of us wished to mention Heathcliff’s absence,as long as we could conceal it; so I replied, I didn’t knowhow she took it into her head to sit up; and she saidnothing. The morning was fresh and cool; I threw back 136 of 540

Wuthering Heightsthe lattice, and presently the room filled with sweet scentsfrom the garden; but Catherine called peevishly to me,‘Ellen, shut the window. I’m starving!’ And her teethchattered as she shrank closer to the almost extinguishedembers. ’She’s ill,’ said Hindley, taking her wrist; ‘I supposethat’s the reason she would not go to bed. Damn it! Idon’t want to be troubled with more sickness here. Whattook you into the rain?’ ’Running after t’ lads, as usuald!’ croaked Joseph,catching an opportunity from our hesitation to thrust inhis evil tongue. ‘If I war yah, maister, I’d just slam t’boards i’ their faces all on ‘em, gentle and simple! Never aday ut yah’re off, but yon cat o’ Linton comes sneakinghither; and Miss Nelly, shoo’s a fine lass! shoo sitswatching for ye i’ t’ kitchen; and as yah’re in at one door,he’s out at t’other; and, then, wer grand lady goes a-courting of her side! It’s bonny behaviour, lurking amangt’ fields, after twelve o’ t’ night, wi’ that fahl, flaysomedivil of a gipsy, Heathcliff! They think I’M blind; but I’mnoan: nowt ut t’ soart! - I seed young Linton boathcoming and going, and I seed YAH’ (directing hisdiscourse to me), ‘yah gooid fur nowt, slattenly witch! nip 137 of 540

Wuthering Heightsup and bolt into th’ house, t’ minute yah heard t’ maister’shorse-fit clatter up t’ road.’ ’Silence, eavesdropper!’ cried Catherine; ‘none of yourinsolence before me! Edgar Linton came yesterday bychance, Hindley; and it was I who told him to be off:because I knew you would not like to have met him asyou were.’ ’You lie, Cathy, no doubt,’ answered her brother, ‘andyou are a confounded simpleton! But never mind Lintonat present: tell me, were you not with Heathcliff lastnight? Speak the truth, now. You need not he afraid ofharming him: though I hate him as much as ever, he didme a good turn a short time since that will make myconscience tender of breaking his neck. To prevent it, Ishall send him about his business this very morning; andafter he’s gone, I’d advise you all to look sharp: I shall onlyhave the more humour for you.’ ’I never saw Heathcliff last night,’ answered Catherine,beginning to sob bitterly: ‘and if you do turn him out ofdoors, I’ll go with him. But, perhaps, you’ll never have anopportunity: perhaps, he’s gone.’ Here she burst intouncontrollable grief, and the remainder of her words wereinarticulate. 138 of 540

Wuthering Heights Hindley lavished on her a torrent of scornful abuse, andbade her get to her room immediately, or she shouldn’tcry for nothing! I obliged her to obey; and I shall neverforget what a scene she acted when we reached herchamber: it terrified me. I thought she was going mad, andI begged Joseph to run for the doctor. It proved thecommencement of delirium: Mr. Kenneth, as soon as hesaw her, pronounced her dangerously ill; she had a fever.He bled her, and he told me to let her live on whey andwater-gruel, and take care she did not throw herselfdownstairs or out of the window; and then he left: for hehad enough to do in the parish, where two or three mileswas the ordinary distance between cottage and cottage. Though I cannot say I made a gentle nurse, and Josephand the master were no better, and though our patient wasas wearisome and headstrong as a patient could be, sheweathered it through. Old Mrs. Linton paid us severalvisits, to be sure, and set things to rights, and scolded andordered us all; and when Catherine was convalescent, sheinsisted on conveying her to Thrushcross Grange: forwhich deliverance we were very grateful. But the poordame had reason to repent of her kindness: she and herhusband both took the fever, and died within a few daysof each other. 139 of 540

Wuthering Heights Our young lady returned to us saucier and morepassionate, and haughtier than ever. Heathcliff had neverbeen heard of since the evening of the thunder-storm;and, one day, I had the misfortune, when she hadprovoked me exceedingly, to lay the blame of hisdisappearance on her: where indeed it belonged, as shewell knew. From that period, for several months, sheceased to hold any communication with me, save in therelation of a mere servant. Joseph fell under a ban also: hewould speak his mind, and lecture her all the same as if shewere a little girl; and she esteemed herself a woman, andour mistress, and thought that her recent illness gave her aclaim to be treated with consideration. Then the doctorhad said that she would not bear crossing much; she oughtto have her own way; and it was nothing less than murderin her eyes for any one to presume to stand up andcontradict her. From Mr. Earnshaw and his companionsshe kept aloof; and tutored by Kenneth, and serious threatsof a fit that often attended her rages, her brother allowedher whatever she pleased to demand, and generallyavoided aggravating her fiery temper. He was rather tooindulgent in humouring her caprices; not from affection,but from pride: he wished earnestly to see her bringhonour to the family by an alliance with the Lintons, and 140 of 540

Wuthering Heightsas long as she let him alone she might trample on us likeslaves, for aught he cared! Edgar Linton, as multitudeshave been before and will be after him, was infatuated:and believed himself the happiest man alive on the day heled her to Gimmerton Chapel, three years subsequent tohis father’s death. Much against my inclination, I was persuaded to leaveWuthering Heights and accompany her here, LittleHareton was nearly five years old, and I had just begun toteach him his letters. We made a sad parting; butCatherine’s tears were more powerful than ours. When Irefused to go, and when she found her entreaties did notmove me, she went lamenting to her husband and brother.The former offered me munificent wages; the latterordered me to pack up: he wanted no women in thehouse, he said, now that there was no mistress; and as toHareton, the curate should take him in hand, by-and-by.And so I had but one choice left: to do as I was ordered. Itold the master he got rid of all decent people only to runto ruin a little faster; I kissed Hareton, said good-by; andsince then he has been a stranger: and it’s very queer tothink it, but I’ve no doubt he has completely forgotten allabout Ellen Dean, and that he was ever more than all theworld to her and she to him! 141 of 540

Wuthering Heights At this point of the housekeeper’s story she chanced toglance towards the time-piece over the chimney; and wasin amazement on seeing the minute-hand measure half-past one. She would not hear of staying a second longer:in truth, I felt rather disposed to defer the sequel of hernarrative myself. And now that she is vanished to her rest,and I have meditated for another hour or two, I shallsummon courage to go also, in spite of aching laziness ofhead and limbs. 142 of 540

Wuthering Heights Chapter X A CHARMING introduction to a hermit’s life! Fourweeks’ torture, tossing, and sickness! Oh, these bleakwinds and bitter northern skies, and impassable roads, anddilatory country surgeons! And oh, this dearth of thehuman physiognomy! and, worse than all, the terribleintimation of Kenneth that I need not expect to be out ofdoors till spring! Mr. Heathcliff has just honoured me with a call. Aboutseven days ago he sent me a brace of grouse - the last ofthe season. Scoundrel! He is not altogether guiltless in thisillness of mine; and that I had a great mind to tell him.But, alas! how could I offend a man who was charitableenough to sit at my bedside a good hour, and talk on someother subject than pills and draughts, blisters and leeches?This is quite an easy interval. I am too weak to read; yet Ifeel as if I could enjoy something interesting. Why nothave up Mrs. Dean to finish her tale? I can recollect itschief incidents, as far as she had gone. Yes: I rememberher hero had run off, and never been heard of for threeyears; and the heroine was married. I’ll ring: she’ll be 143 of 540

Wuthering Heightsdelighted to find me capable of talking cheerfully. Mrs.Dean came. ’It wants twenty minutes, sir, to taking the medicine,’she commenced. ’Away, away with it!’ I replied; ‘I desire to have - ‘ ’The doctor says you must drop the powders.’ ’With all my heart! Don’t interrupt me. Come and takeyour seat here. Keep your fingers from that bitter phalanxof vials. Draw your knitting out of your pocket - that willdo - now continue the history of Mr. Heathcliff, fromwhere you left off, to the present day. Did he finish hiseducation on the Continent, and come back a gentleman?or did he get a sizar’s place at college, or escape toAmerica, and earn honours by drawing blood from hisfoster-country? or make a fortune more promptly on theEnglish highways?’ ’He may have done a little in all these vocations, Mr.Lockwood; but I couldn’t give my word for any. I statedbefore that I didn’t know how he gained his money;neither am I aware of the means he took to raise his mindfrom the savage ignorance into which it was sunk: but,with your leave, I’ll proceed in my own fashion, if youthink it will amuse and not weary you. Are you feelingbetter this morning?’ 144 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Much.’ ’That’s good news.’ I got Miss Catherine and myself to ThrushcrossGrange; and, to my agreeable disappointment, she behavedinfinitely better than I dared to expect. She seemed almostover-fond of Mr. Linton; and even to his sister she showedplenty of affection. They were both very attentive to hercomfort, certainly. It was not the thorn bending to thehoneysuckles, but the honeysuckles embracing the thorn.There were no mutual concessions: one stood erect, andthe others yielded: and who can be ill-natured and bad-tempered when they encounter neither opposition norindifference? I observed that Mr. Edgar had a deep-rootedfear of ruffling her humour. He concealed it from her; butif ever he heard me answer sharply, or saw any otherservant grow cloudy at some imperious order of hers, hewould show his trouble by a frown of displeasure thatnever darkened on his own account. He many a timespoke sternly to me about my pertness; and averred thatthe stab of a knife could not inflict a worse pang than hesuffered at seeing his lady vexed. Not to grieve a kindmaster, I learned to be less touchy; and, for the space ofhalf a year, the gunpowder lay as harmless as sand, becauseno fire came near to explode it. Catherine had seasons of 145 of 540

Wuthering Heightsgloom and silence now and then: they were respectedwith sympathising silence by her husband, who ascribedthem to an alteration in her constitution, produced by herperilous illness; as she was never subject to depression ofspirits before. The return of sunshine was welcomed byanswering sunshine from him. I believe I may assert thatthey were really in possession of deep and growinghappiness. It ended. Well, we MUST be for ourselves in the longrun; the mild and generous are only more justly selfishthan the domineering; and it ended when circumstancescaused each to feel that the one’s interest was not the chiefconsideration in the other’s thoughts. On a mellowevening in September, I was coming from the garden witha heavy basket of apples which I had been gathering. Ithad got dusk, and the moon looked over the high wall ofthe court, causing undefined shadows to lurk in thecorners of the numerous projecting portions of thebuilding. I set my burden on the house-steps by thekitchen-door, and lingered to rest, and drew in a fewmore breaths of the soft, sweet air; my eyes were on themoon, and my back to the entrance, when I heard a voicebehind me say, - ‘Nelly, is that you?’ 146 of 540

Wuthering Heights It was a deep voice, and foreign in tone; yet there wassomething in the manner of pronouncing my name whichmade it sound familiar. I turned about to discover whospoke, fearfully; for the doors were shut, and I had seennobody on approaching the steps. Something stirred in theporch; and, moving nearer, I distinguished a tall mandressed in dark clothes, with dark face and hair. He leantagainst the side, and held his fingers on the latch as ifintending to open for himself. ‘Who can it be?’ I thought.‘Mr. Earnshaw? Oh, no! The voice has no resemblance tohis.’ ’I have waited here an hour,’ he resumed, while Icontinued staring; ‘and the whole of that time all roundhas been as still as death. I dared not enter. You do notknow me? Look, I’m not a stranger!’ A ray fell on his features; the cheeks were sallow, andhalf covered with black whiskers; the brows lowering, theeyes deep-set and singular. I remembered the eyes. ’What!’ I cried, uncertain whether to regard him as aworldly visitor, and I raised my hands in amazement.‘What! you come back? Is it really you? Is it?’ ’Yes, Heathcliff,’ he replied, glancing from me up tothe windows, which reflected a score of glittering moons,but showed no lights from within. ‘Are they at home? 147 of 540

Wuthering Heightswhere is she? Nelly, you are not glad! you needn’t be sodisturbed. Is she here? Speak! I want to have one wordwith her - your mistress. Go, and say some person fromGimmerton desires to see her.’ ’How will she take it?’ I exclaimed. ‘What will she do?The surprise bewilders me - it will put her out of herhead! And you ARE Heathcliff! But altered! Nay, there’sno comprehending it. Have you been for a soldier?’ ’Go and carry my message,’ he interrupted, impatiently.‘I’m in hell till you do!’ He lifted the latch, and I entered; but when I got to theparlour where Mr. and Mrs. Linton were, I could notpersuade myself to proceed. At length I resolved onmaking an excuse to ask if they would have the candleslighted, and I opened the door. They sat together in a window whose lattice lay backagainst the wall, and displayed, beyond the garden trees,and the wild green park, the valley of Gimmerton, with along line of mist winding nearly to its top (for very soonafter you pass the chapel, as you may have noticed, thesough that runs from the marshes joins a beck whichfollows the bend of the glen). Wuthering Heights roseabove this silvery vapour; but our old house was invisible;it rather dips down on the other side. Both the room and 148 of 540

Wuthering Heightsits occupants, and the scene they gazed on, lookedwondrously peaceful. I shrank reluctantly from performingmy errand; and was actually going away leaving it unsaid,after having put my question about the candles, when asense of my folly compelled me to return, and mutter, ‘Aperson from Gimmerton wishes to see you ma’am.’ ’What does he want?’ asked Mrs. Linton. ’I did not question him,’ I answered. ’Well, close the curtains, Nelly,’ she said; ‘and bring uptea. I’ll be back again directly.’ She quitted the apartment; Mr. Edgar inquired,carelessly, who it was. ’Some one mistress does not expect,’ I replied. ‘ThatHeathcliff - you recollect him, sir - who used to live atMr. Earnshaw’s.’ ’What! the gipsy - the ploughboy?’ he cried. ‘Why didyou not say so to Catherine?’ ’Hush! you must not call him by those names, master,’I said. ‘She’d be sadly grieved to hear you. She was nearlyheartbroken when he ran off. I guess his return will makea jubilee to her.’ Mr. Linton walked to a window on the other side ofthe room that overlooked the court. He unfastened it, andleant out. I suppose they were below, for he exclaimed 149 of 540

Wuthering Heightsquickly: ‘Don’t stand there, love! Bring the person in, if itbe anyone particular.’ Ere long, I heard the click of thelatch, and Catherine flew up-stairs, breathless and wild;too excited to show gladness: indeed, by her face, youwould rather have surmised an awful calamity. ’Oh, Edgar, Edgar!’ she panted, flinging her arms roundhis neck. ‘Oh, Edgar darling! Heathcliff’s come back - heis!’ And she tightened her embrace to a squeeze. ’Well, well,’ cried her husband, crossly, ‘don’t strangleme for that! He never struck me as such a marvelloustreasure. There is no need to be frantic!’ ’I know you didn’t like him,’ she answered, repressinga little the intensity of her delight. ‘Yet, for my sake, youmust be friends now. Shall I tell him to come up?’ ’Here,’ he said, ‘into the parlour?’ ’Where else?’ she asked. He looked vexed, and suggested the kitchen as a moresuitable place for him. Mrs. Linton eyed him with a drollexpression - half angry, half laughing at his fastidiousness. ’No,’ she added, after a while; ‘I cannot sit in thekitchen. Set two tables here, Ellen: one for your masterand Miss Isabella, being gentry; the other for Heathcliffand myself, being of the lower orders. Will that pleaseyou, dear? Or must I have a fire lighted elsewhere? If so, 150 of 540